Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;White Cliffs&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘White Cliffs’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with some yellow and red/purple in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘White Cliffs’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘White Cliffs’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘White Cliffs’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘White Cliffs’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Join Grace’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Taisuco Wonder’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘White Cliffs’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘White Cliffs’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are white with some yellow and red/purple in the labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants maybe propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘White Cliffs’, the diameter of the female parent ‘Join Grace’ is about 13 cm and with the male parent ‘Taisuco Wonder’ it is about 11 cm, whereas the diameter of the flowers of ‘White Cliffs’ is about 10 cm.

Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which ‘White Cliffs’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘White Cliffs’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘White Cliffs’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘White Cliffs’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘White Cliffs’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘White Cliffs’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘White Cliffs’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘White Cliffs’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘White Cliffs’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘White Cliffs’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘White Cliffs’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘White Cliffs’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘White Cliffs’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Join Grace’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Taisuco Wonder’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-6             mm wide and green 30 in color (RHS 145A); freely branching.             It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to             initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 66 cm Spread: about 60 cm.         -   Growth habit.—large; dark green leaves and a relatively             normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 5 to 6 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, long leaves, the tip is blunt             and asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—3 to 4 pairs of leaves.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 19 to 29 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 5 to 10 mm 20 Mature leaf             thickness: about 1.5 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS 137A) Under side:             green (RHS 137C).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS N137B) under side: red/purple (RHS 137D). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2 Number of flowers per             raceme: about 6 to 12 Length: about 60 to 80 cm Diameter:             about 6 to 7 mm Strength: strong Aspect: upright Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: green (RHS N137D) which runs into             RHS 137C Internode: Length: about 41 to 51 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 34 mm Diameter (at             midpoint): about 29 mm Shape: egg-shaped Color: main color             is yellow/green (RHS 145C) with a purple haze (RHS 77C).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for 25 about 4 to 8 weeks             after a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25°             C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and             flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2 Size:             Height: about 95 mm to 110 mm Diameter: about 10 mm to 106             mm Depth of tube: about 11 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals Arrangement: Inner whorl of             petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2             lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly             cupped Apex: oval Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base:             broadly ovate Length: about 65 mm Width: about 50 mm             Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side:             white (RHS NN155C) Under side: white (RHS NN155C) with a             light purple haze (RHS 75A) Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed             with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the             lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at             the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape             while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it             Margin: entire and weakly undulate Apex: lateral lobes: oval             Midlobe: slightly pointy corners Length: about 25 mm Width             (not flattened): about 26 mm Texture: Upper and under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):             Midlobe: upper surface: main color is white (RHS NN155C). At             the base some little spots/stripes are red/purple (RHS 60B).             Some green/yellow (RHS 1A) in corners and in center. Under             surface: main color is white (RHS NN155C). At the base             purple (RHS N78B) and green/yellow in corners (RHS 1A).             Edges from base to corners are red/purple (RHS 60B). Lateral             lobes: upper surface: main color is white (RHS NN155C). At             base red/purple stripes (RHS 59B) and a haze of RHS 60B.             Lower edge small line of RHS 60B, than yellow (RHS 2A).             Under surface: main color is white (RHS NN155C). At the base             red/purple (RHS 59C). At lower edge small line of RHS 60B.             Lower corners yellow (RHS 2A). Chirri: long (about 27 mm)             and curly. In between a little point (about 4 mm) color:             white (RHS NN155C) with yellow tips (RHS 2A) Pestle             (Callosities): Length: about 7 mm Width (not flattened):             about 8 mm Color: main color is white (NN155C). Sides and             top are yellow (RHS 7B) with red/purple stripes and spots             (RHS 59B).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Length: about 53 mm Width: about 34 mm Apex:             dorsal: oval with a very small notch. Lateral: slightly             pointy Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny             Color (when fully opened): upper surface: main color is             white (RHS NN155C). Lateral sepals have green/yellow flared             mark (RHS N144D) at the base. Under surface: main color is             white (RHS NN155C). Dorsal sepal has a purple haze (RHS             77B). Lateral sepals has a purple haze and purple vein (RHS             77C/RHS 77B). From base yellow/green flared mark (RHS             N144D). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 11 mm Diameter: about 7 mm Color:             white (RHS NN155C) Pollinia: Quantity: two Diameter: about 1             mm Color: orange (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm Diameter: about 6 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155D).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 45 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: at the base green (RHS 137C), in             the middle yellow/green (RHS 145A) and close to flower             purple (RHS 76B). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘White Cliffs’, as illustrated and described herein. 